Transcript Age friendly urban spaces - Dr Kathleen Brasher, COTA
Age friendly urban spaces
Dr Kathleen Brasher
Urban spaces take their form largely from the ways people experience their bodies Sennett 2002
The ageing body in urban spaces • Designed for freely moving body • Inhospitable for older people with exceptions
The evolutionary transformation (or, which one is old?)
The life course as it was
Kalache, 2013
The potential life course
Kalache, 2013
The problems of ageing • Poverty • Discrimination • Social isolation • Chronic illness
Benefits of ageing A$74 billion per annum As carers & volunteers de Vause, 2003
A$53 billion per annum Intergenerational transfer of money O’Dwyer et al. 2012
Social ‘glue’ Share knowledge Enact community values Connect people to place and history
Urban spaces that enhance Health Security Participation Lifelong learning
WHO Global Age Friendly Cities and Communities Initiative www.who.int/ageing/age_friendly_cities_net work /en/
1. People and Place Creating places that allow older people to flourish 2. Active involvement of older people The meaningful, purposeful involvement of older people in creating those places
8 Domains 1. Outdoor spaces & buildings 2. Transportation 3. Housing 4. Social participation 5. Respect & social inclusion 6. Civic participation & employment 7. Communication & information 8. Community support & health services
• • • • Outdoor spaces Well maintained, smooth footpaths Adequate seating spaced at regular intervals Safe green spaces with shelter and seating Services are clustered and accessible WHO AFC Checklist
Transportation • • • • Accessible and affordable public transport Friendly, available taxis Bus drivers able to support older people Reliable community transport WHO AFC Checklist
Mobility is the connection between and within domains
Mobility means • • • • • Independence Quality of life Physical activity Social connection Participation in the life of the community
What stops us?
Single solution approach Short-term, acute response Need to think in decades not days
Deeply held, negative attitudes to ageing and older people
Separation of the life span creating an ‘us and them’
Fearful attitude to our future selves and our own mortality
Create urban spaces … to ensure older people have the best later life for themselves and the nation
Re-imagine urban spaces through the ageing body Places for health, community and flourishing throughout life